Welcoming the Social Moose

The Social Moose. It's a strange name for a blog, but the kids seem to like it. Well, anyway, here's our syllabus, at least for now:

CM 3307; Interactive Media; Spring 2009
Dr. Lance Strate, Faculty Memorial Hall, Room 434A
Telephone: (718) 817-4864; E-mail: strate@fordham.edu
http://lancestrate.blogspot.com
Office Hours: Mon. 4:30-5:30 & 7:30-8:30; Tues. 1-2; Wed. 2-3; or by appointment.
Point of View of This Course:
In this course, we will create a collaborative learning environment, and learning community, in order to explore, examine, and understand the contemporary online media environment, including the recent phenomenon known as social networking and Web 2.0.
Required Text:
Communication and Cyberspace: Social Interaction in an Electronic Environment (Second Edition), edited by Lance Strate, Ron L. Jacobson, & Stephanie Gibson.
Additional readings will be provided in class or online.
Course Objectives:
1. To explore and participate in the contemporary online media environment and the social networking/Web 2.0 phenomenon.
2. To examine the contemporary online media environment from a variety of different perspectives, including the aesthetic, phenomenological, philosophical, critical, historical, anthropological, psychological, and media ecological.
3. To analyze the personal, social, and cultural implications of the contemporary online media environment.
Evaluation:
1. Participation. First, there is the Fordham College policy that unexcused absences are grounds for failure. Second, there is the basic requirement that you attend class with a minimum of absences (excused or unexcused), and that you come to class on time and remain for the full duration of class. Third, you need to participate sensibly during class meetings. Fourth, you need to contribute to the class blog, and participate in other group activities online, including an exploration of social media sites such as MySpace, Twitter, and YouTube. Participation will account for 20% of the final grade.
2. Written Work and Other Creative Activity. You will be required to produce written commentary and analysis and post it on our public blog. This will include assessments of assigned readings, discussion and analysis of online experiences and materials, and commentary on each other's work. Your written work will be graded in terms of quantity, timeliness, and quality, and will account for 60% of the final grade.
3. Examinations. There will be a final examination, which will account for 20% of the final grade.

Tentative Schedule

Jan. 13 Introduction to the Class
Jan. 20 Basic Concepts
Reading Due: Introduction, Introductions to Sections 1-4, & Chap. 14
Jan. 27 Interaction and Learning Online
Reading Due: Chaps. 12, 13, 19, 20
Feb. 3 Hypertext and Online Writing
Reading Due: Chaps. 15, 16, 17
Feb. 10 Virtual Worlds
Reading Due: Chaps. 5, 6, 7
Feb. 17 Monday Schedule—No Class Meeting
Feb. 24 Time and Space
Reading Due: Chap. 22 and "Varieties of Cyberspace"
Mar. 3 History and Policy
Reading Due: Chaps. 8, 9, 10, 11
Mar. 10 Issues of Control
Reading Due: Chaps. 3, 4, 21
Mar. 17 Spring Recess — No Class Meeting
Mar. 24 Critical Perspectives
Reading Due: Chaps. 1, 2, 18, and the Epilogue
Mar. 31 Reading Due: TBA
Apr. 7 Reading Due: TBA
Apr. 14 Reading Due: TBA
Apr. 21 Reading Due: TBA
Apr. 28 Conclusion to the Course
May 11 *MONDAY* 1:30-3:30 Final Exam